The American dream used to mean that if you worked hard, saved money, and didn't spend extravagantly, you would be guaranteed a decent life. That article of faith is no more; it has been replaced by a growing fear that even two incomes will prove insufficient to afford a home in a good neighbourhood, a reliable vehicle, quality schools, healthcare, the means to care for ageing relatives, and the leisure to properly raise children. The middle class is waking up to the sobering realisation that the United States is fast becoming an unaffordable nation. Transcending ordinary politics, Jeffrey Jones addresses every member of the American community, not as liberal or conservative or as Democrat or Republican, but in the most basic and equal of terms: in their capacities as working persons dependent upon their occupations, their employers, and the government regulation of both to earn a decent living. He uncovers the profound moral consensus among Americans from every walk of life regarding the entitlements that should follow from individual hard work.
Jones argues that regardless of political leanings, economic class, gender, and ethnic and racial differences, Americans remain united in the conviction that individuals who work hard should receive decent wages and other resources in return. He goes on to propose a "covenant on affordability", outlining the respective obligations of government, corporations, and individuals in ensuring a life that is affordable for every person who is willing to work hard. "The Unaffordable Nation" is a must-read for every American concerned about the decreasing value of his or her labour, alongside the rising costs of nearly everything.